Projecting device for toy airplanes



Dec. 2, 1941- s. OPPENHEI M ET AL PROJECTING DEVICE FOR TOY AIRPLANES Filed Feb. 23, 1940 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 KIN-ET ED 4 Claims.

This invention re'latesgenerally'to amusement devices and more particularly to a catapult or projector for launching 'toy airplanes or the like into flight.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved construction for a toy catapult which will be sturdy and rugged, and emciently adapted for the purposes to which it is directed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character described, a novel means for attaching and maintaining the propulsion means in a highly advantageous manner.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character described,'utilizing extensible propulsion means, novel means for adjusting the projection tensionoi said-extensible propulsion means.

Still a furtherobject of the present invention assembly and operation, and many ofitsadvantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in -which thesame characters -of i eferenceareemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several 'figuresof the drawing:

Fig. -1 is a side elevational 'view of our new catapult with portions thereof in section.

"Fig. '2'is 'aplan view'of our improved'catapult.

Fig. 3 is'a'front elevational view of our cata- L-shaped member of wood, or other suitable material, forming the body of our catapult. A portion of said body 18 'cornprises'the handle or grip' ll adapted to be grasped by the operator in the manner of a pistol, but obviously same could be constructed to operate-as a rifle by providing the body with a stock to the rear of grip is to provide, in a device of the character dell. 'The'ba'rrel [2 of the member H3 is generally scribed, a novel shuttle or carrier for projecting rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, a miniature airplane into flight. with the bottom thereof rounded to promote A further object of'the present invention is to comfort in handling. The forward portion of provide a novel guiding means for the shuttle the barrel i2 is flaired as shown at i3 and is of our improved launching catapult. notched as at M fora purpose presently to be Further objects of the inventionreside'in prodescribed. Immediately above the flaired portion viding a novel shock absorbing means for my I-3 and thegrip ll, there are provided upstanding shuttle, providing means associated with said "e tensions 5 and 6, respectively, said extenshuttle for drawing same'into position prior to sions being. inte l y formed With the y release, providingnovel means for attaching an of the catapult. A rodmember il extends beextensible'pr'opulsion means to'our device. tween said extension-S 5 a d for e p p With theforegoing and other-objects in view, of guiding the motion of the shuttle, designated which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, generally y the haractel i8- S d rod member the invention consists in certain novel features "is fi d in Position y y appropriate means, of construction, arrangement and combination 8 011 as providing one end with a head 19 and of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated 'threadinglihe other e d receive nut 20, with in the accompanying drawing, and particularly associated washers and the'l'ike,or by'any other pointed out in the appended claims, it 'being 'convenientmeans. understood that various changes in the form, hus fi-w l be'obse ved that t'heforward and roportion, ize and minor detailed-th strucrearward motion of the shuttle I8 is confined ture may be made without departing from the to the space between the extensions [5 and it. spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the order to e accurately guide the shuttle invention. member I8,the bodylfl is'provided between the For the purpose of facilitating an'understand- 4r extension 15 and i a rectangular ing of our invention, we have illustrated in'the ,sa groove Provldes the track for accompanying drawing a-preferred embodiment i ip9 Shaped tonguepreXtenSmn 22 thereof from an inspection of which when conprovldedonfthe bottom.of the shume'w whereby the shuttle may be guided by the groove 21 as sidered in connection with the following descrlpw Q well as the rod member ll. tlOll,Ol1l invention, its mode of construction, The Shuttle member is provided with an opening "23 longitudinally thereof in order to accommodate the rod member ll. A second opening passes through the shuttle perpen- -dijc'ular1y tothedine of -fli'ght (which-obviously isright and left-as viewed-in'Tig. -1) and has the ends thereof countersunk in order to eliminate wear of the propulsion means 25. Said propulsion means consists of a strand or group of strands of fiat rubber, or the like, but may be any elastic extensible device which can be adapted for the purpose herein described. The propulsion band extends from the shuttle 18 to the two openings 26 provided in the arms of a generally Y-shaped member 27 which is fixed to the forward end of the barrel l2 by means of screws 28 or the like. We prefer that the member 21 should be formed from a shock withstanding material, such as a phenol plastic, especially where the body ID of the catapult is of wood. It is to be noted that the member 21 may be firmly attached by reason of the flaired portion I3 providing ample room for strong screws or other fastening means. In our illustrated embodiment, the head 59 of the rod member I! aids in maintaining the member 2? in place.

The propuision band 25 passes through the openings 26, between the arms of the Y-shaped member 21, and passes to the opening 24 in the shuttle. Where the member 25 has been formed by joining the free ends of strand or strands, the

joining knot or splice is best positioned within the opening 24. If it is desired to increase the propulsion tension of the band 25, the front portion thereof which extends between openings 26 may be stretched downward to engage the notch H4 on the underside of the flared portion l3 as shown by broken lines of Fig. 1. While only one notch is disclosed, it is obvious that a plurality of such notches will increase the tension adjustability of the member 25.

The shuttle member I8 is pulled rearward, when it is desired to operate the catapult, by grasping the portion 29 provided therefor on the upper side of the shuttle and moving same to the right as viewed in Fig. 1. This motion tensions the band 25 so that if released the shuttle will snap to the left. The grip H is provided with a trigger member 39 pivoted at 3|, having a hook portion 32 with a rounded forward face 33 and a sharp-cornered rearward face 34. The hook portion 32 projects through a passage 35 provided therefor in the barrel l2, and is disposed in the groove 2: in the path of the shuttle IS. The spring 36 provided in the grip cavity 31 engages the trigger member 30 at the projection 38 and normally tends to force the trigger member 30 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 3|, thus keeping the upper end of the hook portion 32 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

When the shuttle I8 is moved to the right, the

corner 39 of the tongue 22 engages the rounded portion 33 of the hook 32 thereby depressing the trigger member 30 against the tension of the spring 36 while the shuttle is moved past the hook portion 32. However, as soon as the shuttle passes the opening 35, the hook springs back into position so that the corn-er 34 engages and holds the front corner of the shuttle preventing the tension of the member from pulling same forward.

When it is desired to release the shuttle l8, pressure on the finger portion 40 of the trigger member will move the portion out of the path of the shuttle, causing same to fly forward for obvious reasons.

In order to prolong the life of our catapult and minimize the shock caused by the shuttle striking the portion 15 after traveling its path, we provide shock absorbing means, comprising a coiled spring member 4l disposed on the forward end of the rod member I1. Washers are associated therewith in any convenient arrangement. Besides the shock absorbing advantages of the member 4|, the elimination of shock from the shuttle at the end of its stroke will prevent breakage and misadjustment of the airplane 42 or other device carried by the shuttle l8.

The airplane which is adapted to be used in connection with our catapult is a simple one, comprising a single fuselage member 43, weight at its front end 44, and having a horizontally disposed wing 45, horizontal tail member 46 and vertical rudder 41. For the accommodation of the plane 42 in an eflicient manner which will eliminate the need for any special appliances being attached either to the plane or the shuttle l8, we provide the shuttle with a group of forwardly extending fingers adapted to firmly engage the tail assembly of the airplane 42. Said fingers are four (4) in number in order to accommodate an airplane of the form illustrated, but obviously the number may be increased or decreased in accordance with the construction of the airplane which it is desired to launch.

The fingers 48, 49, 50 and 5| are separated vertically in order to accommodate the tail member 46. They are also separated horizontally slightly more than vertically in order to accommodate the fuselage member and permit the vertical rudder 41 to protrude between fingers 48 and 49.

It will thus be seen that the airplane 42 is adapted to be firmly held in the shuttle and yet be free to be launched forward when the catapult is operated. The broken lines of Fig. 1 show the shuttle with the airplane 42 associated therewith poised prior to release of the shuttle by trigger in a manner described. The solid lines show the shuttle and airplane at the extreme left end of the path of the shuttle before the same had been drawn back to the position shown in broken lines. It is obvious how the device operates and hence further explanation will be dispensed with.

It is believed that our invention, its mode of construction and assembly and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the perview of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device of the character described comprising an elongated substantially L-shaped member arranged so that one leg thereof forms a grip and the other leg forms the barrel portion of a catapult, an elongated recess provided in the top edge of the barrel portion and being blocked ofi at either end thereof, and defining thereby a track within which a shuttle is adapted to be disposed, an elongated rod member disposed within said recess and extending between the ends thereof, a perforated shuttle slidably mounted on said rod through the perforation thereof and adapted to slide in said track, an extensible member attached to the forward end of said barrel portion and also being attached to said shuttle whereby when said shuttle is moved to one end of said track adjacent said grip portion of said L-shaped member said extensible member will tend to pull said shuttle forward in said track, and trigger means releasably holding said shuttle in said last mentioned position and against the tension of said extensible member, said rod member having a shock absorbing spring associated therewith at the forward end thereof for I cushioning the shuttle as it reaches the forward end of the recess in its forward motion.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated substantially L-shaped member arranged so that one leg thereof forms a grip and the other leg forms the barrel portion of a catapult, an elongated recess provided in the top edge of the barrel portion and being blocked off at either end thereof, and defining thereby a track within which a shuttle is adapted to be disposed, an elongated rod member disposed within said recess and extending between the ends thereof, a perforated shuttle slidably mounted on said rod through the perforation thereof and adapted to slide in said track, an extensible member attached to the forward end of said barrel portion and also being attached to said shuttle whereby when said shuttle is moved to one end of said track adjacent said grip portion of said L-shaped member, said extensible member will tend to pull said shuttle forward in said track, and trigger means releasably holding said shuttle in said last mentioned position and against the tension of said extensible member, said rod member having a shock absorbing spring associated therewith at the forward end thereof for cushioning the shuttle as it reaches the forward end of the recess in its forward motion, and an outwardly extending cross member attached to the forward end of the L-shaped member and having the forward portion of the extensible member attached to the outer ends thereof whereby upon forward movement of the shuttle tangling of the extensible means will be eliminated and the full stroke of the shuttle will be powered by contraction of said extensible means,

3. A device of the character described comprising an elongated member, means associated with said member for launching a projectile therefrom, said means including a shuttle reoiprocable upon said member and adapted to carry said projectile while imparting its initial velocity thereto, propulsion means for driving said shuttle in its reciprocatory movement, said elongated member having upwardly extending portions at opposite ends thereof extending into the path of said shuttle to the front and rear thereof and thereby defining the limits of travel of said shuttle, a track being provided on said elongated member between said upwardly extending portions, said shuttle having a portion thereof ridingin said track and prevented thereby from lateral movement therein, an elongated rod member extending between said upwardly extending portions, said shuttle being provided with a central opening through which said rod member passes, and cooperating means between said track and shuttle preventing said shuttle from wobbling, laterally moving or rotating about said rod member during its longitudinal motion.

4. A device of the character described comprising an elongated member of substantially L- shaped formation, one of the legs comprising a grip portion and the other of said legs being elongated and comprising a barrel portion, upstanding portions integrally formed with said L-shaped member and provided on the upper edge of said barrel portion, a groove formed in said barrel in the upper edge thereof between said upstanding portions and adapted to receive a tongue therein, a single metal rod extending substantially the length of said barrel portion and having its ends secured to said upstanding portions and disposed in the space between said upstanding portions, a shuttle having a portion thereof riding in said groove and being of tongue-like cross-section, said shuttle having a longitudinally extending perforation adapted to be threaded by said rod to confine, and guide said shuttle during its reciprocatory motion, an elastic band attached to the forward portion of the barrel and to said shuttle and normally tending to pull said shuttle in a forward direction, and trigger means provided in said barrel portion cooperating with said shuttle to releasably hold same in a poised condition against the pull of said elastic band.

SELIG OPPENHEIM. KARL KOUBA. 

